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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Alan Kennedy has urged Glen Johnson to focus on his defensive capabilities for Liverpool. A debate over the England international's suitability to the right-back role continues to rumble on following Liverpool's worst start to the season in over 18 years, with the possibility of him being redeployed as a winger being a key talking point. However, speaking exclusively to Click Liverpool, Kennedy, a left-back during a trophy-laden spell at Anfield between the 1978 and 1985, believes that Johnson is able to combine both defensive and attacking duties in his current role, although the former requires fine-tuning. He said: "I thought it might have happened against Manchester United with Martin Kelly coming in at right-back and Glen Johnson moving a bit further forward. "I don't think Glen will be comfortable with that although he does look good when he does get forward. He looks comfortable in an advanced position. But I like him coming in late rather than being in there at that particular time. "From Glen's point of view, I think he'll prefer to come from the back, make the runs into position and get the crosses in. The thing about it is that he's very good at bringing the ball inside, whoever he's facing, and having a shot at goal with his left foot. "He's had a couple of goals, and one for England, that have been very good. He's a quality player but just needs at the moment to concentrate on a little bit more on defensive duties rather than going forward." Despite only amassing one win in their first six Premier League games, Kennedy remains confident that Liverpool will begin to gel as a unit and does not believe that Roy Hodgson's position will be under threat on the back of such a difficult start to life at Anfield. "It's not been the best. I don't worry about starts to the season but we've seen managers in the past sacked for poor starts," he added. "There's no way Roy Hodgson is going to be sacked and there's no way that this team will stay in its current position. They're too good a team. "They just need to get more experience together and start playing football the way they can play. We know we've got three or four players who have just come in; the likes of Poulsen, Konchesky and Meireles, and it takes time to gel. "We need more games where we play our strongest team every game. I'd say to players 'I'm going to play you because we need the points and the results'. I think it's very important that we get some good results in the next few games."